Automatic photographic unit having synchronized shutter and light source



May 12, 1953 G BUCKY 2,638,039

AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC UNIT HAVING SYNCHRONIZED SHUTTER AND LIGHT SOURCE Filed Feb. 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR. Gustav fludgy May 12, 1953 BUCKY 2,638,039

AUTOMTIC PHOTOGRAPH: UNIT HAVING SYNCHRONIZED SHUTTER AND LIGHT SOURCE Filed Feb. 4. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet "2 l/ll lg 0 n Q N R 4 3 m M m m C W V a I U y v I IN ax \M m W lllll ha A \V u M I K l v. N 8 ww a f NR 5 QR S N M w an. u Rm U Q I|Mh r MN 14 1% I Q N 1 H 5 Na 5 w 1 N R Q mN QH R g 3 -5 :lmi L" I &- Q

Patented May 12, 1953 AUTOMATIC PHOTOGRAPHIC UNIT HAVING SYNCHRONIZED SHUTTER AND LIGHT SOURCE Gustav Bucky, New York, N. Y.

Application February 4, 1952, Serial No. 269,793

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a photographic unit. It is an object of the invention to automatize or at least greatly simplify the act of taking scientific and technical photographic records, and thus to eliminate the otherwise required skill of the operator. The invention aims to provide a photographic unit which is very handy, light and easy to manipulate so that it can :be operated with one hand, leaving the use of the other hand free for the performance'of other manipulations during the time of exposure and rendering the use of a tripod or stand superfluous.

It is another object of the invention to provide a photographic unit including a light source, which owing to its small size and weight, its simplicity, and the shortness of required exposure time, allows the taking of pictures without much preparation which otherwise would require a good deal of skill, time and efiort or even might be impossible for one of these reasons.

The invention also aims to make use of the light from the source incorporated in the unit to an especially high rate. As disclosed in my copending U. S. application Serial Number 153,447, filed April 1, 1950 the rays emitted from opposite sides of the light source are reflected upon the A object to be photographed. According to the ment of the distance of the light sensitive film I from the objective. vvention that distance remains constant, means According to the present inbeing applied whereby, similar to an invention disclosed in a U. S. application filed by Frank G. Back on August 10, 1950, Serial Number 178,722, now Patent Number 2,590,916, issued April 1, 1952,

' different objectives or parts of objectives are provided for difierent purposes.

The invention further contemplates the provision of means for synchronizing the illuminating flash with the opening of the objective by a shutter system which operates a switch for the energization of the flashing light source at the instant the shutter is open.

Further objects and details of the invention will be apparent from the description given hereinafter, and the accompanying drawing illustrating an embodiment thereof by way of example.

In the drawing,

2 Fig. 1 is a front view of a camera according to my invention and with the shutter in released position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section on a larger scale along line.

33 of Fig. 1, the shutter being shown in the cooked position;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic section along line 44 of Fig. 3, showing the arrangement of the lightreflecting means;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the shutter system and light switch, in the cooked position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the shutter in the released position;

Fig. 7 is another view similar to Fig. 5 at the moment of an exposure and of the operation of the switch; and

Fig. 8 is a front view of the camera back which contains the sensitive film or plate.

Referring now to the drawing, the unit comprises three major parts, viz. the body l0 containing objective, lighting and shutter means, the camera back H constituting the holder for the light-sensitive film or plate (not shown), and the adapter I 2 being one of a set of a plurality of different adapters each of which includes means determinative of the area to be photographed and of the distance of that area from the objective, and furthermore optical means to adapt the objeotive according to that distance, and also means for directing the rays from the light source within the body H3 upon the area to be photographed. In the illustrated embodiment the camera back H is a detachable attachment of the body l0. However, this is not necessarily so; that means, body It), and camera back I I may be made in one piece. It is also tobe noted that an adapter need be applied only for close-up exposures, whereas for an infinite range merely body I 0 and camera back H with the parts contained therein are required.

The body ID in the front elevation of Fig. 1 has a shape similar to a paddle. It comprises a housing portion 13 having a top wall I4, rear wall I5, side walls I6 and I1, and bottom wall 18. The bottom wall has a tubular extension IS the interior of which communicates with the interior of the housing through an opening 20 in the bottom wall 18. The housing portion I3 is closed in front by a cover 21 which may be screwed to the side walls It and 11 as indicated at 22. For a purpose which will be explained hereinafter, the cover or front wall 2| may be provided with a step 23 as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The tubular extension 19 has a rib-like corrugated projection 24 to furnish a secure finger hold when the body is gripped by the users hand encircling the tubular extension IE). A socket 25 for a iiash bulb 28 is located in the tubular extension i5 and secured by a cap 2? screwed into the lower end of that extension so that the bulb projects through the opening 25 into the housing E3. The cap 21 is provided with a bottom. hole 28 for a cable 29 containing the wires conducting current to the socket 25, and with a lateral hole 3Q communicating with an inner groove 3i formed by the aforementioned rib M. Through the hole 30 and groove 3| wires may be run from the socketzii to a switch '55 in the housing which will be described hereinafter Closely above the step 23, the cover is provided with a tubular projection extending towards the rear housing wall l5 and forming a mount for a lens 35 located near the rearward end of the angles, and both axes define a plane of symmetry of the housing body iii. An optical system is pro- "vided' to direct light rays from opposite sides of the flash bulb 25 in paths symmetrical with respect to the mentioned plane to two openings '3'! and 38 provided on both sides, respectively, of the cover 2|. The type of the optical system applied is immaterial. However, it is desirable that the rays emitted through the openings 3? and 38 are collected as much as possible but cover the entire area which can be photographed by means of the lens 36. on a film or plate within the camera back I l fully described in the above mentioned U. S. ap- .plication for patent filed by Frank 'Back on August 10, 195i). In the present embodiment the optical system is diagrammatically shown in Fig.

Well as reflectors. The prisms are so located that light rays from the flash bulb 25, having passed the faces 6! will be reflected by the faces 43 through the faces 42 towards another pair of prisms 44 and 55. This second pair is located on the same level as the lens 35 and in registry with the openings 3'! and 3%, respectively, so that the light rays received by the prisms i l and d5 will be projectedv through the mentioned openings. IBetween prisms 39 and A l and also between prisms t5 and 45, lenses such as shown at ii]! and N82 i may be located, so that the optical systems of the prisms and coordinatelenses ltl and 102 have the same focal length as the'lens 35.

' .In the rear of lens 35, a hole 53 is provided in the housing wall [5 from which a tubular extension 41 projects rearwardly and coaxially with lens 36 and hole 45. The extension A! serves for ,the attachment of the camera back H which may be-connected to the part Hi either permanently 'or removably as in the case of the present embodiment. In that case a connector piece 48 is secured to the camera back H and fits into the housing extension 5?. The connector is provided on its outside with a groove having an axial arm 45 and a peripheral arm '55, and the extension t! is provided with an i.nwardlyprojectingipin 5i for engagement with the groove can: in the manner of a bayonet fastening. The connector 48 includes a shutter comprising two plates as shown in Fig. 8, 52 and '53, covering an opening 54 when the camera back I! is disen-' A suitable system for that purpose is more 1 'disc in Fig. '5. device which comprises a plate sector 5'! pivoted before opening 62 registers with opening 4%.

4 gaged from the housing It. The shutter can be opened, i. e. the plates 52 and 53 can be withdrawn from the opening 5% by shifting a pin 55 from the one end of a curved slot 55 to its other end. As a shutter of the mentioned kind known in the art and not a part of the present invention no detailed description of its structure seems to be required. When the camera back H is to be connected with the housing Hi, it is first to be applied in such a relative position that pin 51 engages the axial groove 151. It is, then, pushed home until the pin 51 is located in the knee formed by the axial groove is and peripheral groove 50.. In this position of the parts the shutter pin .55 fits in a hole or indentation 5"! of the housing wall I5. Thereupon the camera back H is turned as far as pin 5! in the peripheral groove 55 permits. Simultaneously pin 55 is retained in the indentation and, thus shifted in relation to the part 48 to the other end of the slot 56 thereby opening the shutter '52, 53.

Another shutter system is provided with respect to the opening it. This systemcomprises a shaft 58 which is journaled in the cover 2! of the housing underneath the lens mount 35. The shaft 58 can be turned by a knob '58 'securedto it outside the cover 2!. The inner end of shaft 58'forms an axially slotted socket 5i] engaged by and coupled with a short coaxial shaft 5% which is journaled in the housing rear wall 15. If the structure permits it, shafts 5t and 56 may be one piece. A shutter disc 6! is secured to the shaft 60 and provided with an opening 62 which can pass in front of the opening id when shaft '50 rotates. The disc (if is further provided with a secess 63 in its periphery, into whichthe head 64 of a release button can engage when the disc is in the cocked position illustrated'in Fig. 5. In order to limit the rotation of the disc to a desired angle, for instance about 135 as in the present case, a stop can be provided e. g. by a peripheral projection 65 which abuts against the shank of head as in the released position (Fig' 6) of the disc. A'pin 55 is so arranged at a small angular distance from the opening 62 that it precedes the latter upon a counter-clockwise rotation of the The pin 65 controls a capping at 68 to the housing'rear wall above the disc 5|. The sector 6! is so biased by a spring 59 that in its normal position the sector is located between the discBl and the lens mount 35 in the path of rays from the lens 36 to opening 56. Pin 65 is so arranged that it can engage the sector 6'! and shift it out of registry with the opening #5.

When the disc will be turned into cocked position,

that means in a clockwise direction from the position of Fig. 6 into that of Fig. 5, the opening 62 will pass the opening 45 before pin 66 engaging the sector 5?. will swing the latterto the right hand side until pin and sector become disengaged whereupon the sector with or without the aid of the spring 69 will return to its normal position. Thus during such movement of the disc the opening 46 will be permanently covered either by the disc or by the sector or by both. If, however, the disc is turned in the opposite direction, pin 66 will engage the sector 5? and shift it to the left y correctly selecting the shape of the sector 6'5, the radius on which the pin 5c is located, and the angular distance of the pin from opening 62 it can be attained that the sector will be fully withdrawn from opening 45 when the openings register.

In .order to operate the shutter, a spring is secured with its ends to the shaft 58 and the cover 2| so as to return the disc from the cocked to the released position. The releasing device comprises the aforementioned head 64 with shank H and push button" projecting from a little boss 13 on the rear wall I5 of the housing. A spring 14 located within that boss tends to push the button outward. In the released position with the push button 12 pressed inward against the restraint of spring 14, the periphery of the disc 6| is located between the head 64, the shank H and the wall |5. When upon cocking of the shutter the disc 6| will be turned against the restraint of spring 19 so that the recess 63 registers with the head 64, the latter will be withdrawn by spring 14 to enter into the recess and to lock the disc in the cocked position as shown in Figs. 3 and 5- It is to be noted that the push button for the shutter release is located in the aforementioned plane of symmetry of the housing l0 and at'the lowermost point of the disc 6|. This location renders it possible to operate the push button with the thumb of the same hand, regardless whether it is the users right or left hand,'which grips the tubular housing extension |9 with the other four fingers while making an exposure.

The aforementioned sector 61 which serves as a capping device has another task in that it operates a switch 75 for the flash bulb 26. The switch is secured to the inside of the housing somewhat above the disc 6| and on that side of the sector 61 to which the latter is swung upon the release of the shutter from cocked position. The switch is operative by a pivoted arm 16 which is in the path of the sector 61 and can be turned by the latter. The operation of the switch 75 closes the current of the flash bulb 26, and arm 16 of the switch is so formed that the current will be closed exactly at the time disc opening 62 is in registry with the opening 46.

Viewing means are provided which preferably consist of a view finder tube 80, an eye piece 8| at its one end, and a reflecting member 82 at the other end. The tube 80 is'held in an eye 18 on top of the housing wall I4. The reflecting member 82 has its reflecting face inclined 45 downward with respect to the horizontal and is located in the'aforementioned plane of symmetry of the housing." Another inclined reflector 83 is secured to the shutter knob 58' so that it is in opposition to the reflector 82 when disc 6| is'in cocked position. An arm 84 which connects the reflector-"33 with the knob 58' is so long that the center'of the reflector 83 coincides with the axis a--a in that position. If, however, the shutter disc 6| will be released reflector 83 will betaken along bythe disc shaft 58 so that the lens 36 is unobstructed during an exposure. The reflectors 82 and 83may be either plane mirrors or prisms having each one plane and two curved surfaces. A small light bulb I00 may be provided in the housing front above the lens mount 35 to furnish light when the view finder is used. This bulb may be so connected that it burns permanently as long as cable 29 is connected to a source of current.

Provided the optical system for projecting light rays is correctly selected with respect to the focal distance of the lens 36 the unit so far described consisting of the housing ID with the camera back I and the parts contained therein is useful for infinite distance exposures without further attachment. As it has been stated hereinbefore the output of the flash bulb 26 is utilized to a large extent owing to the symmetrical'arrangement of the optical system for projecting light rays from two opposite sides of the flash bulb. The invention contemplates still further utilization of the flash bulb light for infinite dis- 'tance exposures by providing a window 88 in the front cover of the housing part I I. This window renders it possible to utilize rays emitted by the bulb directly forward from the camera. The window 89 remains unobstructed all the time as the view finder reflector 83 moves only between a position vertically above the window and a position approximately 135 from the vertical as shown in Fig. 1. In order to render the unit fool-proof in the hands of a user, for close-up exposure, a set of adapters |2 may be provided. Each adapter comprises a frame or other portion 88 which is determinative of the area to be photographed. Frame 90 is rigidly connected by bars 8| to a plate like piece 82 from the center of which a tubular extension 93 projects in the direction opposite the frame 80. The tubular extension 93 fits into the tubular mount of the lens 36, and forms the mount for a front lens 84. Lens 94 is so selected that it constitutes together with lens 36 a lens system having a focal distance in proper relation to the length of the rod 8|, the size of the frame 80, and the distance of the camera back H from lens 36. In other words if an adapter is correctly positioned with its extension 83 within the lens mount 35 and plate 92 bearing against the upper portion 2| of the housing cover 2|, the lens system 36, 84 will be capable of producing on a light sensitive filrn or plate in the camera back a clear picture of an object upon which the frame 98 is placed, wherein the picture will correspond to the area defined by the frame. On the opposite sides of the tubular extension 83, theplate 82 is furthermore provided with optic wedges 85 and 86 positioned in front of the openings 31 and 38, respectively, when the adapter is correctly applied. The wedges are so selected that light rays reflected by the prisms 44 and through the openings 3! and 38 will be projected by the wedges upon the area defined by the frame 98. In order to insure the correct position of the plate 92 the aforementioned step 23 of thefront cover 2| is provided on which the plate can bear with its lower edge 91, while thumb screws 88 secure the plate to the housing ,0.

As the light output of the flash bulb is a given quantity, the illumination of the area, defined by the adapter frames will differ accordingv to the distances of the frames from the lenses84, i. e. according to the lengths of the bars 9| For this reason each adapter is provided with a diaphragm having an opening larger or smaller as the bars of the adapters of a set differ in length. In the illustrated embodiment the tubular mount 83 has, for that purpose, an end wall I with a diaphragm opening I06 which is so selected that the correct quantity of light will pass on to the camera back In order to operate the unit according to the invention, the user will select an adapted |2 best suited the object to be photographed. While the shutter disc BI is in the released position and consequently the view finder 83 in its lower position below the step 23, the adapter can be shifted with its tubular extension 93, i. e. the mount of the front lens 94 into the mount 35 of the rear lens 36 whereupon the thumb screws 88 may be tightened. It will be noted that the -diaphragm H15, is now located between the lenses "SQ-and 36. s

Thezlocation'of the diaphragm opening H36 in "relation to lenses 36 and 94 is predetermined and maybe selected according to the requirements by making the length of the tube 93 between the lens 94 and the end wall it longer or shorter. *The camera back H with the unexposed film or plate therein may be attached to the housing 13 vin-the manner hereinbefore described, prior to :or after the attachment of the adapter. .both the adapter and the camera back are af- When fixed to the housing, shutter knob 58' may be jturned to cock the shutter whereby the mirror ,83 is moved into its position in front of the lens system. The unit may now be held by one of the user's hands at the grip I9 and be applied to the object with the frame 9!] encompassing the area to be photographed. The view finder may When the frame is in housing rear wall [5. As the shutter 52, 53 is open when thecamera is attached the flash of the bulb 26 will cause the desired exposure.

The electric wiring within the part Ill and grip I!) has not been shown in the drawing in order to prevent overcrowding thereof. The Wiring may be provided according to any suitable and. conventional type of circuit.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many alterations and modifications ofthe structure shown and described are possible without departure from the essence and spirit of the invention which for that reason shall not be limited but by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a unit including an objective lens and a lamp for illuminating an object to be photographed, the combination of a housing including a mount for said lens and tubular extension of the housing body constituting a grip for one of theu'sers hands to hold said camera during exposures, said lamp, being mounted in said extension so as to project into said housing and to emit'light rays through openings in the housing jwalha switch for said lamp and a shutter device accommodated in said housing, said shutter' device including a shutting member a capping member, said capping memberhaving a position of rest and being reciprocable from said position in one direction so as to obstruct the path of rays passing said objective lens, and

being reciprocable in the opposite direction so as to operate said switch, means tending to return said capping member to said position of rest, means to cock said shutting member, means to release said shutting member, said last menshift said capping member in said one direction and then to release it during the cooking of said shutting member, and to shift said capping member in the other direction and, then,

to release it during the release of said shutting member from-cocked position.

ZJ'A device as claimed in claim 1, said shutting member being a rotatable disc with a'hole therein so-as to pass said path of said rayswhen said disc is turned, said capping member being a plate pivoted to said housing, and said follower being adapted to engage the rim of said plate from the one or the other side depending on the direction in which said disc is turning.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising viewing means including a. member having a reflecting surface inclined with respect to the axis of said objective, said reflecting memher being connected to said shutting member for common movement so as to be positioned in front of said objective when said shutting member is cooked and to be removed from its said position when said shutting member is being released.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shutting member consists of a disc and a disc shaft journaled in said housing and projecting with one of its ends therefrom, said cocking means being attached to said shaft end, said device further comprising viewing means including a member having an inclined. reflecting surface and being connected to saidshaft so as to be in a position in front of said objective when said shutter disc is in its cocked position and to be remote from said objective when said shaft is turned into released position.

5. In a photographic unit including an objective and a carrier for a light-sensitive surface, the combination of a housing having a front wall, a rear wall, and a tubular extension of its bottom constituting a grip for one of the users hands during exposures, said housing including a mount for said objective and means forthe attachment of said carrier in registry with an Opening of said rear wall, a shutter'disc between said mount and said. rear wall, a shutter disc shaft journaled in said front and rear walls in spaced but parallel relationship to the axis of said mount, said disc beingprovided with a hole which passes said rear wall opening when said shaft rotates, resilient means connected to said shaft and tending to turn said shaft in one direction, a knob secured to one of the ends of said shaft to turn it byhand against f the restraint of said resilient means into a cooked position of said shutter, a capping device reciprocably attached to said housing and having aposition of rest in which said rear-wall opening is covered by it and being so shiftable that said rear wall opening-is uncovered-'byit, 'saicl capping device being biased so as ;to take its position of rest when released, means con- -11ected to said disc to engage said capping device upon a turn .of said shaft for cockingsaid shutter disc, thereby tov take said capping device along so as to cover said rear wall opening when. said disc hole approaches said opening and to release said capping device when said hole has passed said opening, a detent for bolding said disc in its cocked position, and a push button for releasing said detent, said push button bein er t'v b th b -tioned means being so located as to beoperative g 0p a 1 e y the um of the hand holding said grip.

6. A photographic unit comprising a housing including an extension of its bottom, said extension constituting a grip for one of the user's hands to hold said camera during exposures, an objective mounted in said camera, a rotatable shutter in the rear of said objective, a shaft for said shutter extending with. one of its ends through the front wall of said housing underneath said objective whereby a torque may be being secured to said shaft end, and having one 10 position in front of said adapter when the latl0 ter is attached and said shutter is cocked, and another position in which it is below said adapter when said shutter is released.

GUSTAV BUCKY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,586,973 McMillin Feb. 26, 1952 2,590,916 Back Apr. 1, 1952 

